Drone Downed on Calif. Beach, Prompting Arrest

By Staff Writer | August 21, 2015

Unmanned

A California man was arrested Sunday for downing a company-operated drone that hovered over him during a beach trip. Augustine Lehecka said he used a T-shirt to snare the rotor blades of the rotary-wing drone and cause it to drop to the sand, suffering about $750 in damage according to its owner. Minutes later, Lehecka was arrested on a count of vandalism, though charges were never filed. Lehecka said he had felt threatened when the drone flew low over his group of friends. The drone pilot asked to remain unnamed, but told NBC 7 he had been flying at a safe distance.